Steps To Take After A Natural Disaster ( What You Want To Know Wednesdays )

Natural disasters can be unpredictable, and devastating. Even the events that are predicted are hard to be fully prepared for. You can never know what to truly expect, so you prepare the best you can. The most important thing to do is find safety. Here are some tips to help after the storm passes.

Contact your insurance company - As soon as things settle down and the danger has passed, assess the damage to your property and contact your insurance company to file a claim. Bear in mind that there will be several people doing the same thing so be patient. Also, keep in mind that some damage may not show up immediately, so exercise caution when signing final insurance settlements.

                ** If you have a mortgage on the home that was damaged, the insurance check MAY BE issued to you and your lender. Contact your mortgage lender to find out their procedure on such events.

Contact the government – U.S. News compiled a fantastic list of government assistance that you might be eligible for:

  • Do you need general financial assistance? The Federal Emergency Management Agency Individuals and Households Program offers money for necessary expenses and serious needs that aren't related to housing. If you need money for medical expenses, child care, transportation or, grim as it sounds, funeral costs for a loved one, then you may want to visit DisasterAssistance.gov, where you can type in your address and see if you're eligible for any type of financial assistance.
  • Do you have flood insurance? You'll want to visit this webpage offered by FEMA to file a claim with the National Flood Insurance Program.
  • Are you a college student with loans impacted by the storm? The U.S. Department of Education has a Web page set up that may answer a lot of your questions.
  • Concerned about your estimated tax payments? No need to call anyone or go to a website. For those who are self-employed or own small businesses, you may be interested to know that the IRS has said that it will grant automatic extensions (until Jan. 31, 2018) to individuals and businesses that have taxes that were due between Aug. 23 and January 2018.

Contact your creditors – Your creditors may be able to work with you and your bill.

Document the damage – Before making any repairs document everything. Take pictures and video of damage for your insurance company and disaster relief agencies.

Work safely - Once you start cleaning out your home, be careful! If your property was damaged from a flood, floodwater is usually toxic.  Msn compiled an excellent list with tips on how to dry out your home.

Avoid scam artists – They know that homeowners are dazed and confused after a disaster and they will take advantage of your misfortune. Always verify your sources and the legitimacy of their business.  Also, insurance companies are aware of scammers coming out of the blue so they may require more documentation.

 

U.S.com // Msn.com


* Specific loan program availability and requirements may vary. Please get in touch with your mortgage advisor for more information.